Brassavola
Brassavola nodosa
📖 About this plant
Known as the ‘Lady of the Night’ for its intoxicatingly fragrant white flowers that release their strongest perfume after dark. The long, slender, tubular leaves resemble elongated pencils, and the elegant, star-shaped white flowers with a greenish or pinkish tinge can last several weeks. A compact, easy-growing orchid ideal for beginners. Thrives in bright light and warm conditions with good air circulation.
🧑🌾 Care requirements
Bright indirect to full sun (4-8 hrs)
Every 1-2 weeks
Moderate to high (50-70%)
18-30°C
Orchid bark mix (medium-grade fir bark) with perlite and charcoal; mounted on cork or tree fern slabs; excellent drainage is critical
Balanced orchid fertilizer (30-10-10 or 20-20-20) diluted to half strength every 2 weeks during growing season; reduce frequency in winter
📋 Plant facts
- 🌍 Origin
- Central and South America — Mexico through Peru; found in coastal forests, mangroves, and lowland tropical areas; also the Caribbean
- 📏 Max height
- 20-45 cm
- 📐 Spread
- 20-45 cm
- 🕰️ Bloom time
- Spring - Fall
- 🎨 Bloom color
- White, Green
- 🍃 Foliage color
- Green
- ⏳ Lifespan
- Perennial
- 📈 Growth rate
- Moderate
- ☠️ Toxicity
- Non-toxic to humans and pets; orchids are generally considered among the safest houseplants
- 🌱 Propagation
- Division of pseudobulb clumps when plant has 6+ pseudobulbs, keeping at least 3 per division; back-bulb propagation from older pseudobulbs
🛡️ Health & Safety
Non-toxic to humans and pets; orchids are generally considered among the safest houseplants
Common issues
- Root rot from overwatering, Sunburn on leaves, Mealybugs in leaf axils
💡 Care tips
- Also called Lady of the Night for its intensely fragrant nocturnal blooms,Long thin terete leaves distinguish it from other orchid genera,Extremely drought-tolerant and thrives on neglect,Crossed with Cattleya to create the popular Rhyncattleya hybrids
